Long time no Halstead update, eh? Sorry guys! But I'm back with a new chapter!

It goes without saying due to the recent events on the show, that I am no longer a Hank Voight fan. I hate the way they've portrayed him the last few seasons. A toxic manipulator who's only worried about himself. This latest storyline was the nail in his coffin.

So having said that, Hank has been mentioned in this story quite a bit as not only an ex boss and mentor but a pseudo grandfather to the Halstead clan. I'm here to assure you that is no longer the case. If you don't like that, I'm sorry. I feel most will agree.

So it goes without saying that between updates, and no it will not be mentioned or dealt with, that Hank has passed. A heart attack of all thighs, after his 30 years as a cop.

R.I.P cause I'm done with ya, old man.

There will be a little longer authors notes at the end. Please enjoy and please leave a review! 3

"Hailey Anne, what are you doing?"

Hailey glances up from where she sat on the couch, folding a load of laundry. The lamp on the table next to the couch was on, casting a very light glow. She watches Jay flip on the lamp on the opposite end of the couch before sitting down next to her.

"It's two in the morning." He says reaching for a T-shirt from the pile in front of her. He quickly folds it and sets it to the side before reaching for another.

Hailey smiles at him softly as she watches him help her fold laundry, without her asking. It was one of the things she loved most about this man. He helped her with even the smallest of tasks unprovoked.

Hailey turns her attention back to the item in her hands and does the same. She shrugs. "I just couldn't sleep. I didn't want to wake you up with my tossing and turning."

"Insomnia?" Jay asks and reaches for another item out of the basket. "Or are you thinking about Preston?" Hailey just nods, telling him he's right. "Me too, but he's safe Hails. And he's not going anywhere until we know he will go somewhere else safe."

"That's just the thing Jay, we don't know that he'll end up somewhere safe. Look at V," she sighs. "Some of the stories she's told me about growing up in the system terrifies me. No kid should have to deal with that and I don't want Preston to go through that."

He sets the last pair of pajama pants down on the pile in front of him before collapsing back onto the couch. Hailey lays the shirt she was folding with it before allowing Jay to pull her into his side. He runs a hand over her curls.

"The difference in Preston and Vanessa is that he has us to look out for him." He assures her, his cheek coming to rest on the top of her head. She reaches out and grabs his hand, playing with his hand and the silver wedding band he wore on his left hand (when he wasn't working that is, it gets swapped for a silicone one when heading to work.)

"I know, I know." She sighs. "I just wish he could stay here."

"We never said he couldn't." He says pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "We never actually discussed it. We just have to think, we have 5 other kids. Two of which are under 2. Can we give him the attention he truly deserves?"

She sighs again. "I want to."

"I know," he agrees. "I do too. Maybe it's something we should consider and discuss."

"Really?" She says moving to look up at him, her head still resting on his chest. "You'd be open to that?"

"Of course." He says squeezing her closer to him. He leans down and places a kiss to her forehead. "But in the morning. It's late Hails and you know the twins will be up early."

She looks over at the clock on the wall and groans when she sees it's almost 2:30. "You're right," she leans forward and pats his thigh, before using him as leverage to push herself up. She turns to him and holds her hand out. "Come on old man, let's go back to bed."

He smiles up at her and takes her hand, allowing her to pull him up. He wraps his arm around her shoulder and pulls her into his side, hers going around his middle.

Together, wrapped up in each other's arms, they head up the stairs to get a few more hours of sleep. The basket of folded laundry can wait til morning.

Vanessa walks into the break room and over to the counter where Hailey stood. Hailey was absentmindedly stirring a stirrer in her coffee as her mind raced with a million different thoughts.

"Yo, earth to Hailey Halstead." Vanessa says snapping her fingers in front of her friends face. She laughs as Hailey jumps slightly and pushes past her friend to reach for her own coffee cup. "You good, Hailes?"

Hailey just nods and moves to sit down at the small round table in the middle of the room. "Yeah, just didn't get much sleep last night."

Vanessa sends her friend a smirk as she joins her at the table. "What, Halstead keep you up all night again?"

Hailey rolls her eyes. "Is everything about sex with you?"

Vanessa smirks. "You've seen my husband, how can it not be?" Hailey rolls her eyes again and Vanessa laughs. "Besides look at your husband. How do you think about anything else?"

"My sex life is perfectly fine, thank you." Hailey assures her friend and Vanessa's smirk grows. "But that's not why I didn't sleep last night."

Vanessa nods knowingly. "When are they coming?"

"Should be any minute." Hailey says glancing to her watch before looking back at her friend. "My stomach is in knots."

Vanessa reaches out and takes her friends hand in her own. She gives it a reassuring squeeze. "You're truly an angel Hails, Preston is lucky to have you and Jay in his corner."

Hailey offers her a small smile but before she can say anything else, Jay pokes his head in the door. "It's time, Hailey."

Hailey looks up and past her husband. She sees the two suits behind him and pushes herself to stand with a nervous sigh.

"You're doing a great thing Hails, just let them see that." Vanessa encourages her and Hailey nods before following Jay out into the bullpen.

"We can talk in my office," Jay says to the two visitors, holding his hand out and gesturing toward the door. He watches as they both enter and take a seat. He glances to Hailey who looks like she's about to throw up and sends her a quick wink. He smiles when he sees it visibly calm her.

"Care to tell us a little more about what's going on Sargent or Mrs. Halstead?" Allie, the female social worker, asks as Jay moves to stand in the small area behind his desk. He gestures for Hailey to take his seat and she does.

Twenty minutes later, Allie closes her notepad and looks up at the married couple. Chris, her partner was still writing in his pad. "Of course we will have to launch an investigation of our own into your claims, but clearly both of your word is credible. This should be a fairly easy case."

Jay nods but Hailey speaks up. "So what happens to Preston? While you're doing this investigation?"

Chris offers her a sad smile. "Unfortunately the child would be placed into the states custody until we can conduct the investigation. His placement will then depend on that outcome."

"So you're going to place him in a random home?" She asks, her eyes wide.

Jay places a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. "Hailes,"

"Why can't he stay with us?"

"Unfortunately you're not foster parents." Chris reminds her and Hailey sighs.

"Although," Allie starts and all three adults turn their heads toward her. "Given Sergeant Halstead's recent promotion and your high ranking as detective it could be done. Both of your status in our community and the police force show that you're dedicated to help others. It wouldn't take much to have you two cleared so that Preston could stay in your home."

Hailey turns to Jay with wide, hopeful eyes. Jay looks from her fo the woman in front of them. "Just like that?"

Chris nods. "That is, if you wish to keep the child in your home. Even if just temporarily until things get sorted."

Hailey eagerly nods.

"Yes," Jay agrees with his wife. "We're more than willing. He can stay with us as long as it's needed and we can discuss a more permanent option as we go."

"Alright then," Chris says moving back to his tablet. "We'll get that ball rolling."

"Adam will you please sit still." Kim all but begs from where she lays on the examination table. "You act like you've never done this before."

"I can't help it, I'm nervous." He laughs moving to sit down next to her instead of pacing like he had been doing since they'd been placed in the exam room twenty minutes prior.

"Why? You're not the one who's going to have to push this giant head out of your vagina."

Adam rolls his eyes good naturely. "I hate seeing you in pain darlin."

"Then quit knocking me up." She snorts.

Adam opens his mouth to argue when the door opens and the doctor walks in to begin her exam. Ten minutes and a pelvic exam later, she moves to throw her gloves in the bin next to the bed. "Well Kim, looks like you're having a baby."

Kim turns to look at her with wide eyes. "Excuse me?" She hasn't expected that to come from her.

"Like now?" Adam asks, his eyes wide as well.

"Well not eight this moment," The doctor assures them, laughing slightly. "But she's dilated and thinned enough that I'm admiring her. With this being her third delivery I'd definitely say later today."

Kim turns to Adam with wide eyes. He mirrors her expression. "Well holy shit." He mutters

"Hey momma!" Hailey says as Stella opens the door to the loft. She offers her a small smile as a very exhausted looking Stella stands in front of her. "How's it going here?"

Stella throws her head back and groans tiredly. "Remind me why I wanted this." She says making her way into the loft. Hailey closes the door and follows her to the couch. She takes a seat next to her as Stella reaches up and throws her messy curls into a bun on top of her head. "I haven't slept in two weeks. They trade off on sleeping so that one of them is always awake and crying. I haven't showered." She looks down at the shirt she was wearing and cringes at the several spit up stains. "I've been wearing this shirt for 3 days and Kelly started back to work today so he's gone for the next 24 hours."

Hailey stares at her friend, and smiles sadly. She knew exactly what Stella was going through. Being a new mom was exhausting with one baby, let alone two. However, she had insight as a momma of twins as well.

"What are you staring at?" Stella snaps and Hailey laughs.

"Okay, so here's what you're gonna do." Hailey says standing up and pulling Stella up with her. She pushes her toward the bedroom. "You're going to take a nice hot shower and not worry about the babies. I've got them. Then while you're in the shower I'm going to order take out and you can eat when you're done. THEN you're going to match your happy ass into your room and take a much needed nap. I don't care how long it is."

"Hailey-" Stella tries to argue and Hailey shakes her head. She turns to face her friend, halting their movements.

"Nope, no room for arguments." She says shoving her once more toward the bedroom.

"You can't watch them both. They're -" she stops when Hailey raises an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"Stella, how many kids have I mothered? Five. And in that is a set of twins. I got this, just for a few hours I promise. Then you can go back to being super mom, I promise."

Stella just stares at her friend with tears in her eyes. Hailey begins to order her again but she teaches out and pulls her in for a tight hug. "God you're the best best friend anyone could ask for." Hailey laughs as she squeezes her. "I love you, Hailey Halstead."

"I love you too, momma." Hailey says hugging her friend back tightly. "Now go, you stink."

Stella pulls back, laughing. "Fine, fine."

"Hey," Jay says looking up from where he was unloading the dishwasher. "There you are. How's Stella?"

Hailey sets her bag down on the counter before reaching for a slice of pizza that was left out. "She's exhausted, but she got to take a shower and a hour and a half nap so she's back to super mom."

Jay laughs. "It's hard enough to be a new parent without having twins,"

"Tell me about it." Hailey nods in agreement. "Plus Kelly is back to work so he's gone for 24 hours at a time. I can't imagine doing that alone. I was exhausted with the twins and I had you around to help me out."

He offers her a small smile. "Well, she's lucky to have a friend like you."

Hailey just shrugs, because of course she's that humble, before reaching for her phone that was vibrating on the counter in front of her. Jay turns back to the dishwasher and Hailey's eyes go wide at the message she's reading.

"Speaking of being a good friend, we're about to be out numbered Halstead."

Jay turns to her, eyebrow raised. "Huh?"

She hands him her phone so he can read for himself. "Kim's in labor. We told her and Adam we'd keep Charlie and Liv when she had the baby."

"Oh yeah," he laughs, throwing his head back. "Eight kids under one roof. Two of us, what could possibly go wrong right?"

"They can totally take us," she laughs as she takes her phone back from him. He nods in agreement and she turns to head toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?" He yells after her and she glances over her shoulder.

"To set up the trundle bed in the girls room so we can fit 4 little girls in one room. Care to help?"

Jay watches her in amazement for a second before following after her. He truly had the best wife in the word and he couldn't ask for a better mom for his kids. She was so selfless.

"OWEN!" Will shouts from the bottom of the steps. "Let's go! We're going to be late if you don't hurry your ass along."

"FIVE MINUTES!" Owen argues from his room upstairs. "I'm wrapping Kenny's present!l

With an eye roll, Will turns to the door just as the door bell ring. "What are you doing here?"

Natalie steps inside. "We need to talk."

"Well it's going to have to wait," he says shutting the door behind her "We're already late for Kennedy's birthday party."

"I'll be quick," she promises and he rolls his eyes at her. She hands him a small wrapped present. "This is for Kennedy. I know her birthday is this weekend and I wanted to make sure she got something from me."

He just takes the present and nods, setting it aside with his own present. "What do you want Natalie?"

She lets out a heavy sigh. "I got offered a job." He just raises an eye at her.

"Uh congrats?" His tone is sarcastic and Natalie rolls her eyes.

"In Seattle." His eyes go wide. "They want me there immediately. I'm moving Will."

"And exactly how do you plan to move across the country when your son is here. In Chicago?"

"That's the thing, I'm taking Owen with me." She holds strong and Will sees red.

"Like hell you are!" He shouts. "You're not taking my son from me!"

"You mean like how you took my son from me?" She challenges. "He's lived with you and barely spoke to me since we split Will."

"And who's fault is that Nat?" He raises an eyebrow her. He has to fight to not release all his anger at her. "You made your bed, deal with it! You're not taking my son across the country!"

"Try me, Will! I've already talked to my lawyers, he's coming with me!"

"There's my girl." Hailey says looking up from where she was busy placing the cupcakes on the stand. "How was your nap birthday girl?" She makes her way around the counter and scoops her daughter up, bringing her to rest on her hip.

Kennedy just rubs her eyes before resting her head on her mother's shoulder.

"What do you think Kenny?" She says gesturing to the princess themed decorations that were hung all over the first floor of the house. "You like?"

"Yes momma," Kennedy nods her head before yawning. She snuggles further into Hailey's arms.

Hailey smiles as she runs a hand over her daughters blonde hair. "Oh someone's extra snuggly today." She makes her way into the living room and sits down on the couch. Sure she still had decorating to do, but it wasn't every day that Kennedy woke up in this snuggly mood. With her turning 5, she knew there wouldn't be too many more moments like this, so she decides to enjoy it. Decorating could wait.

Fifteen minutes later they hear the front door open and both Hailey and Kennedy turn to see Jay walking in carrying two car seats, followed by Stella who was carrying a grocery bag.

"Look who I found outside." Jay says walking into the living room and sitting the two seats down on the coffee table.

Stella follows him and laughs as she sits her diaper bag down on the ground before handing him the grocery bag. "He wouldn't let me carry my own children so we traded."

Hailey laughs.

Jay shrugs. "Look just because Kelly couldn't come doesn't mean you have to do it all. I mean, I know you can but still."

"Well thank you, Jay." Stella says sitting down next to Hailey on the couch. "It's nice to have friends like you guys." Jay just nods before turning to head into the kitchen to put up the stuff Hailey had sent him to the store after.

Stella turns to her friend. "You got a keeper, Hails."

Hailey smiles after her husband who is now out of sight. "Don't u know it."

"There's the birthday girl!!!" Stella says turning her attention to the girl in Hailey's arms. "Hi baby, come here!" She eagerly reaches for Kennedy and pulls her into her lap, hugging her tightly. "Happy birthday Kenny!"

Kennedy laughs as she is smothered in kisses from Stella. "Thank you, aunt Stella."

Now that her kiddo was occupied, Hailey leans forward and takes Andy out of his seat. She brings him to her chest as he's awake, his sister fast asleep in her seat. She places a kiss to the top of his head. "God I miss when mine were this small."

"Oh hell no!" Jay shouts from the kitchen. "Don't even think about it!"

This causes both Hailey and Stella to laugh.

Later that night the insane party for the five year old is dwindling down. Hailey's in the kitchen putting away the left over food when Vanessa joins her. The brunette picks up a baggie and begins to stuff the left overs inside.

"How are you holding up Hailes?" She asks and Hailey laughs.

"I had my moment this morning but I'm good now. She has to grow up eventually right?"

"Yeah I guess so," Vanessa glances out the window and smiles when she sees Kennedy running around the back yard with Logan and Preston. "Preston is a really sweet kid."

Hailey smiles. "He really is. It's been a tough few weeks on him but he's adjusting."

Vanessa nods. "Have you guys decided to go for full custody when the investigation is over?"

Hailey shakes her head, her smile faltering. "No." Vanessa glances to her in surprise. "As much as we would love to, it's just not feasible. We have our hands full here already. So he's just going to stay with us until they can find him a permanent placement."

"That's understandable."

"But they're not going to place him just anywhere," Hailey assures her. "Jay and I are helping to find the best home possible. It's what he deserves."

"Hails?" Hailey turns to her friend. "What do you say if he were to come and live with Kev and I?"

Ahhhh, so that's it!

I'm so sorry for the long wait between updates! I've been back in school a few months and working full time. Unfortunately my wiring takes a backseat to that for the time being. However, I'm at the halfway point for my semester, so there's the silver living! Hopefully I'll be back to updating more often then!

I actually have an idea for the next two chapters of this story and where I want it to go. So hopefully I can get them wrote and up soon!

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Please feel free to leave a review! They always make me smile and are much appreciated! 3

Also, if you haven't already check out my new Upstead one shot "Highway don't care!"

Until next time, xoxo